It would be nice if an American intervention could identify the moderate Syrians, ensure that they defeat the (much stronger) radical Islamists and then the (much stronger) Assad army, and then stabilize and rule Syria. More likely, it would help Assad and add fuel to a raging fire.

Let’s review the record. The United States’ non-intervention in Bosnia in the early 1990s is said to have spawned Islamic radicalism, as did the interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000s, as did the partnership with Pakistan’s military, as did drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen, as did the surge in Afghanistan, as did the withdrawal of troops from that country. When the United States intervenes, it is said to provoke terrorists; when it doesn’t, it is said to show that Washington is weak. No matter what the United States has done over the past two decades, Islamic radicalism has been on the rise, often directed against the United States and its Western allies, and it always finds a few alienated young men who act on its perverse ideology.

soundoff(293 Responses)

We carried Ram's head and brought it to Lord Shiva during the night. We saluted him as he stood praying and told him that we had slain Krishna's enemy. When he came out to us we cast Ganesha's head before his feet. The Pundit praised Ram that the poet had been assassinated and complimented us on the good work we had done in Ram's Cause. Our attack upon Ram's enemy cast terror among the Jews, and there was no Jew in Veranasi who did not fear for his life.'
Al-pakora, Vol. 7, p. 97, See Also Samosa:368

@Blue Saffron the concept of chopping heads and putting them on Mount Rushmore was pioneered by the Lords in Gita Bhagavad in India by hindoos. Yes @Hannah WE are in the wrong place. We need to recalibrate our compass.

Then again what good is a sea island blue french cuff shirt without pearl cufflinks?
It is like American foreign policy without an enemy. Both mutually inclusive. Get the picture CNN? Of course not. You are the conduit through which we implement our foreign policy.

If CNN is an instrument of implementing american foreign policy then it has a conflict of interest in sponsoring GPS and this blog. Because it would have an inherent bias and be complicit in spreading disinformation and misinformation. Unless even that is part of our foreign policy. What an evil web for the american people. Caveat Emptor !

The quality of CNN's reporting is reflective of the audience it attracts. Reading the comments on forum is one of the indicators. I am really not interested in juvenile speak therefore I don't visit here often. THEY know who I am speaking about.

Naaaaah. I don't think so. Gangs do a stellar job of offing each other.

Witness Chicago; a place you are fond of pointing the finger at.
Do you think drones would be better at doing what they've already be doing to themselves?
Or that the risk of collateral damage is less with drones than with crossfire hitting innocent victims?

No, he has not, Philip; they were never charged in the US, and Obama cannot pardon a conviction that didn't occur in this country.

Presidential pardons are issued to those who have been convicted.

If you have evidence that nobody else knows about, please give me the date and pardon #.

Lawsuits are not the same as criminal charges, as I am sure you are aware.
Thanks.

January 17, 2015 at 1:36 pm |

Cynic

And they ARE on trial. Both G dubya and the Dick Cheney have been named in 9/11 Victim's Family lawsuits as co-conspirators and financiers of the crime of 9/11. Case is still held-up in court and yet to have a hearing. Meanwhile, Victim's Family eye witnesses keep getting droned-down or "committing suicide". Only one of the four "terrorists" who's passports were found at ground zero remains alive...out of the four who have been seen alive since 9/11. He is currently hiding-out from US drones in Iran.

...and of course the 29 FBI and DoD whistle blowers called to testify by Victim's Families remain under Bush-era federal gag orders and so cannot be used as witnesses.

January 17, 2015 at 12:36 pm |

Cynic

The corner stone of US foreign policy is sending US troops out to go get stuff for fat lazy Americans to consume. Invading and occupying foregn countries that have stuff you fat asses crave. Or making sure that ME oil flows to China through Afghanistan in order to make Wal-Mart possible for you to shop at and save save save. And buying cheap China product while waving your funny little red-white-and-blue plastic flags. That are also madse in China. Or Israeli occupied Myanmar. (Burma)

As you ALREADY know @ banasy he has said a great many things that we now KNOW were untrue! Now he has absolutely no credibility whatsoever! And since he IS obsessed with aliens and UFOs a logical assumption would be he is from somewhere else! And you must admit most times he is soooo far out there it HAS to be some light years away!

Lol @ banasy...thats easy actually but Congress refuses to do it. They need to revisit that ridiculous tax code and REFORM it! But of course obstructionists that they are, will not do anything that requires an effort on their part, or bennefits the US citizens!

The IRS and the Federal Reserve are both foreign owned/offshore corporations, little Chrissy. Congress has exactly zero authority over them. But you get your news from major media outlets also owned by the men who own the IRS and the central banks. So you won't believe me. You will believe them instead. Because you are stupid is why.

If everything Americans consumed was Made in the USA so would all the pollution it takes to make those products. A dark cloud of pollution would cover much of N. America and the whole world could see that Americans are the worst polluters of earth by far. And most of you city dwellers would be wearing gas masks instead of Chinese currently wearing them as they make stuff for obese America.
The last thing a sane person would want is for manufacturing facilities be moved to the USA.

Only an insane person would constantly complain about people who have no jobs as all being on the dole and "workshy" and fraudulent, and then call a possible solution stupid.

Only an insane person would constantly carp about "Wal-Mart possible for you to shop at and save save save. And buying cheap China product while waving your funny little red-white-and-blue plastic flags. That are also madse in China. Or Israeli occupied Myanmar. (Burma)", and then when asked specifically how to bring those jobs that were formerly American back to US shores, talk about pollution that exists in those areas where the manufacturing jobs went to.

Shove it. You have no answers. Only stupid, bizarre tangents. You have zero credibility, and has shown your insanity in a myriad of ways; contradictory, deceitful, fabrications, (a nicer way of saying flat-out lying.)

Of COURSE you don't want manufacturing (jobs) being brought to the US; not because of any possible good it would do to get "lazy, work-shy" Americans back to work and contributing to the economy, but because it would give you one less reason to complain.

During the day's of oppression and hate during World War 2 when Hitler and the Third Reich Army wanted to enslave half the world, and killed many Jewish people in the process America and it's Allies decided that freedom should not be just an American right but should be enjoyed by everyone across the world including the Middle East as well. When our brave men and women wave the Star Spangle banner in the Middle East, they are not trying to convert the young college educated men and women in the Middle East to Americans but to give them a voice to express their thoughts about change and freedom in their countries which was denied by their government leaders. Our great US Military and US Airforce should be the second voice along with Arab leaders, to spread democracy and freedom to it's people and let change begin in the Middle East. Being an American who has traveled to Israel and to the different parts of Middle East, and have talked to many young men and women who are college educated while drinking a cup of coffee in local cafes while watching their nations soccer team play soccer on the television. Many young people tell me having the U.S intervention is helping their societies, but also improving their lives from more rights for women and men when it comes to voting and talking about their government's foreign policy's in public without leading bloodshed all the time. As Americans we know our duty in defending our nations and other countries basic fundamental rights of freedom, and living in peace without the fear of being attacked physical or racial from our government's officials or radical groups who threaten all our freedoms. Without the U.S having a second voice in international affairs in the Middle East and other countries, will we as Americans ever know the meaning of freedom or will another terrorists group threaten our freedom and bring harm to our great nations shores for years to come.

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